Billings man sentenced to 12 years in prison for distributing meth and fentanyl

BILLINGS – A man who distributed drugs in the Billings area was sentenced today to 144 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Shannon Ray Emeline, 45, pleaded guilty in January 2025 to one count of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.

The government alleged in court documents that on February 22, 2024, DEA agents arranged for a confidential source to purchase methamphetamine from Emeline. The deal took place in Emeline’s vehicle and the source paid him $2,000 for a quantity of meth.

In April 2024, agents with the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation searched a residence in Billings, where they located a significant quantity of methamphetamine. They subsequently learned Emeline had purchased the meth and was actively distributing the drugs in Billings.

On May 1, another confidential source told investigators Emeline was staying at a Billings hotel to meet with a source of supply. Agents surveilled the hotel and located Emeline’s vehicle in the parking lot. They performed a traffic stop, searched the vehicle, and seized a plastic bag containing meth and another bag containing fentanyl.

Investigators interviewed Emeline, who admitted renting the hotel room to facilitate the purchase of two pounds of meth. Agents subsequently searched the room and found a bag of meth, a bag of fentanyl, and $6,855.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Yerger prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the DEA, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, and Montana Highway Patrol.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.

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